Nurses working without health insurance

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Jan 24, 2011

junebug,
an advisement to you.
should you try and change insurance carriers you would most likely be denied access to insurance. insurance for anyone who has had a significant hx is pretty much not gonna happen.
should you have fallen and fx your leg in the past, but rehabed with no further counseling/tx for that injury you might be ok, etc. but if you have had something that might recur, or have the potential of causing complications/or predestin you to other problems in your future, even if years in the future, you can expect to have no access to comprehensive individual market health insurance with a reasonable deductible and oop limit.
also the longer you remain on a specific carrier's plan the more you will pay. plan on soon getting notification of rising premiums q6months as you age with the plan the carrier's risk is higher.
if you have filed a claim with any carrier at any time, big brother is aware of it. should you attempt to enter a plan, having neglected to inform the co. of a condition/tx you've had in the past, get accepted to this new plan, and then try to get a claim paid for tx of said condition, you will be denied coverage (total cost is yours). you also will be accused of fraud and your policy will be cancelled. so, they might let you in on what you've said, but they will do an easy data search off your ss, and see all of your history and claims paid when the claim your doctor submits is reviewed for payment. it's all available to them.
short term catastrophic insurance (can enroll for 6 months max, and reapply twice only, consecutively) covers almost nothing, but if you end up in a major mva it might help. you will never have pre-existing condition coverage with it. if you use this short term insurance during your first 6 month term, you cannot be covered the second time you take it for anything dx during your first term. also you might, due to your new hx, be denied as uninsurable.
best to know these things. nothing you can do about it.

why would you tell someone that a rate would increase every six months?

jenin · Jan 24, 2011

I am even more stunned and disgusted by the USA health insurance system everytime I read another post! Move to Australia is all I can say!

(isn't America supposed to be the land of the free????!)

Mudder · Jan 24, 2011

I am even more stunned and disgusted by the USA health insurance system everytime I read another post! Move to Australia is all I can say!
(isn't America supposed to be the land of the free????!)

No hon, America is the land of the poor any more. And if I knew how to get a job in nursing downunder.......I'd fly out in a min..........got an suggestions? :)

jenin · Jan 24, 2011

And if I knew how to get a job in nursing downunder.......I'd fly out in a min..........got an suggestions? :)

Desperate for aged care nurses in Australia!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2011

How Pitiful.....Nurses who don't have/can't afford Health Insurance but in turn take care of MANY people who have Sucked off the system their entire lives.....[/quote']
I took care of a Medicaid pt who told me they were having surgery for a mouthful of dental implants. All courtesy of the state. I have insurance, but that's an option I can't afford. Funny, I have a full time job, pay taxes, have insurance, and can't afford what that pt got for free.

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Jan 24, 2011

I am even more stunned and disgusted by the USA health insurance system everytime I read another post! Move to Australia is all I can say!
(isn't America supposed to be the land of the free????!)

Well it's not all awful there and nor is it a bed of roses here.

We do have waits often and not all treatment is available for us. Our system is good at giving basic care and not so good at implementing latest procedures for those issues that fall out of the average spread.

Patients with (lots of) money often travel to the US for specific treatment that they can't receive here

The US cancer survival rates are better than ours.

And it's my understanding that there isn't so much age-related rationing in the US.

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2011

Hmmm, I have popped out a baby and can't get medicaid. I can only get it if I get pregnant again, then it's cancelled 8 weeks post-partum. My hubby is on SSD and has medicare which only helps if he is ever hospitalized. He had a brain tumor removed which is why he is on disability in the first place and can't afford to do any of the follow ups he was/is supposed to do. Medicare doesn't pay for as much as people think. Once I finally get a job I'll take the employer plan because right now not having insurance sucks. I guess I'm one of those people posters on here say "suck the system" since when I can't see my pcp I end up at the ER. We do try to pay the bill, but can only afford token payments....but they are getting something. And since I have pre-existing conditions private insurance is a no go.

People just don't get how embarassing it is to go to the ER for something you know should be seen by your pcp. But if you get sick before your hubby's check comes in ONCE A MONTH your screwed.

Sorry, but I had to vent a little.

tn1728 · Jan 24, 2011

One of the new healthcare laws that went into effect this month, was to allow children under the age of 26 to be on their parents insurance policies- not sure what your premiums would be where you work, but it could be an option.

redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN · Jan 24, 2011

I don't understand the number of people saying they are not being covered for pre-existing conditions. So long as you've been continuously insured (which they define as less than a 60 day lapse in coverage) you cannot be turned down for a pre-existing condition for more than 12 months of your new policy. And they can only look back 6 months for pre-existing conditions; if you haven't been treated for it in 6 months it's not a "pre-existing condition." It's the primary purpose of HIPAA, despite all the yakking we do about the other side of HIPAA (patient privacy). Sounds like some of you need to start filing appeals or lawyer up!

redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN · Jan 24, 2011

why would you tell someone that a rate would increase every six months?

or that you're going to pay more as you get older??? all members of the same employer health plan pay the same premium (save smokers vs. non-smokers). the premium for all employees may increase (as we have undoubtedly all experienced) but it's not going to increase for one person just because they're older.

i think some people need to bring themselves up to speed in health care law. even if someone has worked at the same place for 20 years, i would have at least thought they'd still know a little bit about the enactment of hipaa in 1996.

robby5313 · Jan 24, 2011

I am under my husbands insurance. We pay 26.00/wk for family coverage health/dental/vision. $300 deductible per person and no co-pay for office visits. Everything else is covered 80%. I tell him over and over how lucky he is to have such good insurance. Insurance through my employer (a hospital) would be about $600.00 a month (and not NEARLY as good of coverage.)

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2011

I don't understand the number of people saying they are not being covered for pre-existing conditions. So long as you've been continuously insured (which they define as less than a 60 day lapse in coverage) you cannot be turned down for a pre-existing condition for more than 12 months of your new policy. And they can only look back 6 months for pre-existing conditions; if you haven't been treated for it in 6 months it's not a "pre-existing condition." It's the primary purpose of HIPAA, despite all the yakking we do about the other side of HIPAA (patient privacy). Sounds like some of you need to start filing appeals or lawyer up!

Thank you redheadnurse! I was just scrolling through the thread to see if someone had posted this rebuttal. I wish people wouldn't post what they don't understand.